Zookeeper mauled in Denver

February 26, 2007|By FROM NEWS SERVICES

Senver — A zookeeper killed by a jaguar was attacked after she opened the door to its enclosure, and authorities were investigating Sunday why she may have disregarded a ban on entering exhibits when a big cat is inside.

The Denver Zoo's feline exhibits were closed Sunday for the investigation. Zoo officials also were interviewing staff members to determine what happened.

The zookeeper, 27-year-old Ashlee Pfaff, had opened a door leading from a service area into Jorge's enclosure on Saturday.

A visitor saw the attack from outside the glass enclosure, and his shouts alerted other keepers, zoo spokeswoman Ana Bowie said.

Under zoo policy, staff cannot be in any large cat exhibit when the animal is there.

The jaguar, a 140-pound male named Jorge, had no history of unusual behavior, Bowie said. Jorge was shot to death by a zoo employee when he approached emergency workers trying to save the zookeeper.

But one big-cat expert said jaguars are naturally mean and erratic.

"They actually are the most unpredictable animal around," said Nick Sculac, director of Big Cats of Serenity Springs, a rescue center.

The zookeeper died at a hospital about 90 minutes after the attack, zoo officials said. The coroner said she died of neck injuries.